Riots have been reported across northern Lebanon today as Sunni MPs declared a “day of rage” to protest the parliamentary vote backing Prime Minister-delegate Najib Mikati and setting the stage for him to form a new government. Riots were reported in Beirut as well as Tripoli, which ironically enough is the home district of Mikati.
Though Mikati himself is a Sunni, many are outraged at the fall of Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s political bloc as the dominant force of the government, and that anger is being fueled by allegations from top members of Hariri’s party that the change in governments amounts to a “political coup.”
Indeed, one of Hariri’s top allies, Samir Geagea, insisted that the election of a new government by means of parliamentary vote was inherently “undemocratic” and chastized the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) of Walid Jumblatt for backing the new faction.
Though it seems that the change of governments mid-term is by and large in keeping with the way parliamentary systems work, the anger and accusations stem from the major split in the nation between Hariri’s pro-West bloc and Hezbollah, which has thrown its backing behind the Harvard-educated billionaire Mikati.
The truth behind tentions sparked by Harriri's faction was the disappointment that befell Harriri's suppoters for not being nominated as the primenister in this critical period.Importance of this occaision lies in the government active role in providing the international court set to invistigate senior harriri's killing with the necessary documentation to put the rope aound Hexbollah's nick.The opposition, knowing the extent of the USIsraeli evil scheme,drove a wedge into the current pro-western government through the resignatin of their 11 member cabinate forcing the government to resign. Though Sunni himself and a close associate of Harriri,Mekati is a moderate politician who senses the dramatic effects on Lebanon of any confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel , decided to play the middle man's role to garner enough support to evert what had been designed by foreign powers.Lucklly, Lebanon unlike previous incidents,has protected itself with enough military and security forces that could easilly quell any attempt by the tumultuous protesters.It appears that the only way for the new opposition to exercise its right is through the legal procedures.
Things are on fire in the Middle East. Well, much more than usual. And in a good way this time. And Israel. Oh, Israel. Shitting in their pants. Ha ha!